Talented filmmakers like Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Hansal Mehta, and others, have been facing challenges with streaming giants Netflix and Prime Video. The streaming industry in India, once a hub for creative expression, experienced a shift as political forces tightened control.
Despite early success and international acclaim with shows like Sacred Games, Kashyap’s ambitious project, an adaptation of “Maximum City,” was shelved by Netflix in 2021. In 2019, the BJP’s influence peaked, leading to the cancellation of shows like “Gormint,” a political satire.
Netflix chose not to release a film by Dibakar Banerjee, which depicted “generations of an Indian Muslim family experiencing bigotry.” Despite the completion of the project, Netflix conveyed to Banerjee that the film’s release might be more feasible if the political climate shifted with the BJP leaving power.
The BJP’s nationalist agenda led to self-censorship, where Netflix and Prime Video executives altered or abandoned projects to avoid offending the Hindu right wing. The BJP’s supporters orchestrated campaigns against perceived anti-national content, prompting police investigations and legal challenges.
A recent article in Washington Post revealed a culture of fear and caution among streaming executives, who sought to avoid political backlash. Makers who once celebrated the freedom of streaming, are now experiencing disillusionment as the industry prioritized business over artistic expression.
